Folding machine for two piece wrapper



J n 1967 A. E. CRANSTON, JR. ETAL 3,327,452

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTORS. ALBERT E. cnAusm Jr. WEI-LIAM J. DOWELL ATTORLA EIY June 27, 1967 Filed May 21, 1964 A. E. CRANSTON, JR. ETAL FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 (H3 gm, 9

a -J Ha we g 4 H4115 a NO I I l I I --no I! L F 5 1 INVENTORS.

ALBERT r-:. CRAMSTDNJ'K WlLLlAM IT. ROWELL AT'FORMEY June 7, 1967 A. E. CERANSTON, JR. ETAL 3,327,452

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

ALBERT E. CRAL1$TOH,Jr.

WILLIAM I). ROWELL Z4 @W/W ATTDRNEY June 1967 A. E. CRANSTON, JR. ETAL 3,327,452

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet .T

u) INVENTORS. 3G I W\ .L.\AM I ROWE-L.

ALBERT E. cRAusToup R.

J n 27, 1967 A. E. CRANSTON, JR. ETAL 3,327,452

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. ALBEQT E'. CRAHbTOHJr. \AMLl-IAM 3 ROVVELL.

ATmRuEY June 27, 1967 A. CRANSTON, JR. ETA 3,327,452

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-$heet F 3| INVENTORS.

ALB RT E. CQAHSTONFW. WILLlAL l 3 ROWELL.

u BY [2 W ATTORH EY June 1967 A. E. CRANSTON, JR. ETAL 3,

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Filed May 21, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS. ALBERT ECRAHSI'Oupr. WILLJAM UT vzowz-zu.

Ammusv United States Patent 3,327,452 FOLDING MACHINE FOR TWO PIECE WRAPPER Albert E. Cranston, Jr., Milwaukie, and William J. Rowell, Portland, 0reg., assignors to Devco, Inc., Oak Grove, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,244 8 Claims. (Cl. 53218) This invention relates to a machine for folding a wrapper about a bundle.

The general object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically performing a sequence of operations to fold a single or multiple piece wrapper about the six sides of a rectangular bundle in a sequence of folding steps performed substantially at a single station. Other objects are to provide an economical machine for performing the steps described in a neat and efiicient m." nner, to provide a novel combination of machine elements to perform these functions in an automatic cycle, to provide apparatus which is flexible in its operation and to provide a machine of the type described which will handle very large and heavy bundles in a minimum of space, which will handle bundles of resilient material and which will not damage the bundles.

The present machine is especially adapted to wrap large bales of resilient material such as compressed pulp but the invention is not limited to bundles of any particular size or material. The preferred embodiments are illustrated in connection with the wrapping of a compressed bale of pulp associated with top and bottom wrappers to be folded. In a first embodiment the projecting sides of the bottom wrapper are folded up and the sides of the top wrapper are folded down by hand or other suitable means following which transverse binding is applied to hold the wrappers in place, all preliminary to the functions of the folding machine. Then the bundle is turned through 90 and the extending end portions of the top and bottom wrappers are formed into flaps which are folded sideways, upward and downward against the ends of the bundle. Finally, a longitudinal binding is applied over the completely folded wrapper and the bundle is discharged.

In a modification, all of the folds are made by machine at a single operating station without turning the bundle.

The invention will be better understood and the foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of two preferred embodiments of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Various changes may be made, however, in the details of construction and arrangement of parts and certain features may be employed without others. All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a first form of apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating the successive steps performed by the apparatus in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the folding machine in FIGURE 1 with parts shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is a view on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation view of the folding machine in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the folding machine showing operation of the end folders;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the bundle showing the operation performed by the end folders;

FIGURE 9 is a view on the line 99 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the operation of the top and bottom flap folders;

3,327,452 Patented June 27, 1967 FIGURE 11 is an end elevation view with the parts in the position of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing the completely wrapped bundle;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevation view with parts in sections showing a modification of the folding machine; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one of the bottom corner folders in FIGURE 13.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the folding machine is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Associated with the folding machine 10 are a pair of binding machines 11 and 12 for applying wire bindings or straps around the bundle. Bundles are delivered to the machines by an iufeed conveyor 13 and are supported during wrapping and folding by a machine conveyor 14. The completely wrapped and bound bundle is delivered on outfeed conveyor 15. The binding machines have their own conveyor sections. In some cases one or both of the binding machines 11 and 12 may be more remote from the folding machine 10 so as to require an intermediate conveyor. In other cases, as will be presently explained, the binding machines may not be used at all.

FIGURE 2 illustrates one method of applying and folding the two piece wrapper on the bundle. This method comprises seven steps designated 21 to 27. The bundle B, which has already been compressed if necessary, arrives on infeed conveyor 13 between the loosely associated bottom and .top wrappers W and W of paper or other suitable material, as shown in step 21, and passes into binding machine 11. In approaching binding machine 11, the bottom side flaps 31 are folded up and the top side flaps 32 are folded down, as shown in step 22, by manual or suitable mechanical means. Binding machine 11 then applies one or more transverse bindings 33 to hold the wrapper on the bundle in this partially folded condition as shown in step 23. Then the bundle proceeds to wrapping machine It).

The base of the wrapping machine 10 includes a tumtable which first turns the bundle as indicated in step 24. In this transverse position, the various end flaps are folded in sequence. First, the projecting side portions 34 and 35 of the bottom and top sheets are folded against both ends of the bundle as indicated in step 25, which operation forms a pair of bottom and top flaps 36 and 37 in the two pieces. Then, in step 26, the bottom end flaps 36 are folded up and top end flaps 37 are folded down to complete the folding operations.

Now the machine conveyor 14 moves the completely folded bundle forward in transverse position into binding machine 12. This machine applies one or more bindings 38 longitudinally around the bundle and, finally, the compietely wrapped and wire bound or strapped bundle is dis charged onto outfeed conveyor 15.

In some cases the wrappers may be secured by adhesive or other means in lieu of binding or strapping. In other cases, as for example when a number of the bundles are to be palletized as a unit, it is not necessary to secure the wrapper of each individual bundle.

An average size of bundle wrapped in this machine is 27 inches by 30 inches by 16 inches high but the bundles may range as large as 36 inches by 40 inches by 24 inches high and weighing from 400 to 600 pounds. The machine wraps up to such bundles per hour.

The folding machine 10 is constructed in two separate parts as shown in FIGURE 3. The lower or base portion 40 rests on the floor between the two binding machines 11 and 12 or between two conveyor sections as previously explained. The upper portion 41 is suspended from a carriage 42 which is movable on overhead transverse tracks 43 for convenience in servicing. During the normal operation of the machine, the carriage 42 is locked in its operating station directly above the lower portion 40. An upper folder frame 44 is connected to carriage 42.

The lower portion is equipped with a turntable as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6. This turntable has a grid platform supported by a shaft 51 which passes vertically through interrupted elements of machine conveyor 14 to raise and rotate the bundle and then lower it back on the conveyor elements in crosswise orientation. The turntable is rotated by drive chain 52 on a sprocket on shaft 51 and it is raised by lift arm 54 which bears against the under side of an index plate 53, the latter being fixed to shaft 51.

The various mechanisms in base portion 46 are carried by a base frame 61. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, opposite sides of base frame 61 carry brackets 62 for a pair of bottom folder paddles 63. These folder paddles are pivotally mounted at 64 on the upper ends of brackets 62. The lower end of each bracket carries a cylinder 65 having a piston rod 66 pivotally connected to the paddle to swing it 90 or more to an upright position. Each bracket 62 is pivotally mounted at 67 to a bracket on frame 61. The upper end of each bracket 62 is pressed against the side plates of base frame 61 by a pair of compression springs 68 on bolts 69. In this way the bracket 62 can yield outwardly to accommodate variations in the dimensions or position of the bundle while folding paddles 63 are pressed firmly against opposite sides of the bundle. FIGURE 10 shows one of the paddles 63 in raised position.

The upper folding mechanisms carried by folder frame 44 on carriage 42 are shown in different positions in side elevation in FIGURES 3, 7 and 10, and end elevation in FIGURES 6 and 11, in bottom plan view in FIGURE 4 and in section in FIGURE 5. In FIGURES 3 and 6 the frame 44 is raised to clear the bundle while in FIGURES 7, 10 and 11 it is lowered into operative relation with the bundle. These vertical movements are produced by a cylinder which is connected at its upper end to the carriage at 76 as shown in FIGURE 3. Extending out of the lower end of this cylinder is a piston rod 77 which is connected to a lower portion of frame 44. In these vertical movements the frame 44 is guided by a pair of square guide tubes 78. The tubes 78 are connected to frame 44 and slide in square sleeves 79 in the carriage 42 as shown in FIGURE 7.

The lower portion of frame 44 includes a longitudinal horizontal guide bar 80 supporting at its opposite ends a pair of slides 81 as shown in FIGURE 4. Each slide carries a vertical hanger bar 82 connected at its lower end to a square transverse horizontal cross bar 83 as best shown in FIGURE 6. The cross bars 83 may be drawn together and spread apart by a pair of cylinders 85 and piston rods 86. The cylinders are connected to a yoke-shaped bracket 87 on one of the slides 81 and the piston rods are con nected to another yoke-shaped bracket 88 on the other slide 81. The lower part of frame 44 further includes a square frame 90 connected with the guide bar 80. Frame 90 presses against the top of the bundle in FIGURES 7, 10 and 11 to hold the top wrapper down. The lower end of piston rod 77 is connected to an upstanding lug on the center of guide bar 80.

The ends of the cross bars 83 carry slides 91 which support side folder plates 92. Each of these folders is of L-shape having a plate 93 at right angles to plate 92 to form a fold around the side corner of a square cornered bundle. Each folder is mounted on a vertical pivot 94 on a sleeve 98 which is adjustably fixed on a slide 91. The folder plates 92 and 93 are resiliently held normally in the 45 positions shown in FIGURE 4 by means of springs 95. One end of each spring 95 is anchored in an ear 96 on a stop plate 97 and the other end extends beyond the pivot 94 and is connected to an ear 101 on plate 92 which projects beyond pivot 94 so as to pull plate 92 toward the cross bar 83. Stop 98a limits the rotational movement to approximately the 45 angle shown but, when these plates close upon the corners of a bundle, the

4,. bundle presses plate 93' toward the cross bar causing plate 92 to be rotated to a position perpendicular to the cross bar.

At the same time, each slide 91 together with its folding plates 92, 93 is movable outward on cross bar 83 so that the folding plates will fit the corner of the bundle. The outer ends of stop plates 97 limit the inward movernents of slides 91. Springs 95 perform the dual functions of pulling the slides inward against these stops and swinging plates 92 outward as far as their stops 98a permit. Stop plates 97 are slotted for adjustable mounting on cross bar 83 by screws 99 in the slots.

A pair of folding paddles for the top flaps are carried by longitudinal shafts 111 journaled in cars 112 depending from a pair of laterally movable side frames 113 as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Each shaft has an actuating arm 114 connected with a piston rod 115 in a cylinder 116. The opposite end of each cylinder is connected at 117 with an extension bracket 118 on the same frame 113. These cylinders and piston rods swing the paddles 90 between horizontal and vertical positions as shown in FIGURE 5. For convenience, the paddles 110 are shown carried by the vertically movable frame 44 but they could just as well be mounted directly on carriage 42.

The side frames 113 carrying the paddles 110 adjust themselves laterally through the action of springs in FIGURES 4 and 6 to the position and dimensions of the bundle. Each side frame 113 is mounted on a pair of slides 121 on one end of a pair of guide tubes 122, the side frames being on opposite ends of the guide tubes so that the side frames can move toward and away from each other. Central portions of guide tube 122 are rigidly mounted on frame 44. The compression springs 125 are mounted on the opposite ends of rods 127 which are secured in openings in members 126 of frame 44. These rods extend through apertures in ears 128 on the top side frames 113, as shown in FIGURE 6. The springs are compressed between ears 128 and nuts 129 on the outer ends of the rods to urge the side frames 113 inwardly toward each other. Thus, the two side frames 113 may shift laterally away from each other for automatic adjustment to the width and position of an underlying bundle when the folding paddles 110 are swung down to folding position.

Operation-FIGURES 1 to 12 In the sequence of operations shown in FIGURE 2, the side portions 31 and 32 of the bottom and top wrappers have been folded and one or more bindings 33 have been applied by the binding machine 11 before the bundle reaches the folding machine 10. The bundle reaches the folding machine in the condition shown in step 23.

The first operation to be performed by the folding machine is to rotate the bundle by means of turntable 50 to its transverse position shown in step 24. The turntable is not essential, however, as the same result may be accomplished by shifting binding machine 11 to one side and turning it 90". Then bundles coming out of the binding machine lengthwise on one conveyor may be picked up by another conveyor at right angles and delivered into the folding machine in transverse positions.

The next step is then to form and fold in the side flaps 34, 35 from the opposite sides of the bundle. This step is accomplished by the corner folding plates 92, 93 as shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9. The upper frame 44 is lowered from its FIGURE 6 position by the action of cylinder 75, the cross bars 83 being fully extended at this time as shown in FIGURE 1 so that the folding plates 92, 93 will clear the bundle in their downward movement.

After the upper frame 44 has been lowered to its FIG- URE 7 position, the outer ends of double acting cylinders 85 are energized to draw in their piston rods 86 causing the cross bars 83 to approach opposite sides of the bundle. During this approach movement, the plates 93 engage the sides of the bundle and rotate the plates 92 around the ends of the bundle to produce the end flap folds 34, 35 shown in FIGURE 8. This is a transverse squeezing movement in which the slides 81 carrying the cross bars 83 float on the guide bar 80 in automatic adjustment to the position and width of the rotated bundle. As this movement is being completed, the four plates 92 press against the ends of the bundle shifting the slides 91 outwardly on cross bars 83 under the tension of springs 95 to flatten the flaps 34, 35 against the ends of the bundle.

Also, as the inward movement of cross bars 83 is being completed, the two bottom flap folding paddles 63 swing upward to vertical position to fold up the bottom end flaps 36. As this movement is being completed, the two top flap folding paddles 110 swing down to fold down the top flaps 37 as shown in FIGURES and ll and cross bars 83 start to retract, Withdrawing the plates 92.

With the bundle now completely folded as shown in FIGURE 12, the upper frame 44 is lifted to free the bundle for movement into binding machine 12. As the upper frame starts to rise, the top paddles 110 are retracted back to horizontal position and the two cross bars 83 have been shifted laterally away from each other to cause folding plates 92 to clear the bundle. In binding machine 12 one or more longitudinal bindings 38 are applied and the bundle is discharged onto outfeed conveyor 15.

During movement of the bundle into binding machine 12, the bottom paddles 63 may be left upright to hold bottom flaps 36 in folded position. FIGURES l0 and 11 show all the flap folding mechanisms in fully actuated positions but it must be explained that in normal operation the folders are never all in such positions at the same time. Normally, the cross bars 83 and plates 92 would be retracting as the top paddles 110 swing downward.

The apparatus is not limited to use .with a two piece wrapper.

Modification in FIGURES 13 and 14 This modification eliminates the need for the first binding machine 11 and the turntable 50 in the folding machine. The bundle is moved into the folding machine with the lower and upper wrappers W and W loosely applied as shown in step 21 in FIGURE 2 but with the bundle turned to the crosswise position shown in step 24. Then, without moving or turning the bundle, the machine itself performs all the folding operations shown in FIG- URE 2.

The upper portion 41a of the machine is the same as the upper portion 49 in FIGURES l to 12 with the addition of top side flap folders 92a to act on side flaps 32 of the wrapper W These folders are similar to the corner folders 92 except that they are pivotally mounted at 9401 to swing about transverse horizontal axes instead of vertical axes. Each pivot 94a is mounted on a slide 91a on a guide bar 83a corresponding to cross bar 83 in FIG- URE 4. A single spring 95a is connected at its ends to projecting ears on the plates 92a which overhang the pivots 94a. Thus, the springs pull the slides 91a toward each other and tend to rotate folding plates 92a upward toward horizontal positions. Stops 141 on the bar 83a limit the movement of slides 91a toward each other and stops 142 on the folder plates limit the rotative movement of plates 92a under the spring action to hold them inclined as shown. Thus, the companion plates 93a, which are rigidly connected to the plates 92a in perpendicular relation, are also held in inclined positions. There is a guide bar 83a on each side of the upper frame 44.

In the lower section of the machine in FIGURE 13, the bottom support for the bundle comprises merely endless chain and plate conveyor elements 150. Angle-shaped bottom comer folders 155 are mounted for vertical movement under the leading and trailing ends of the bundle, as shown. Each of these angle members is mounted on vertical slides 156. Each angle 155 is pivotally mounted at 157 on the upper ends of slides 156 and normally spring biased to the 45 angle position shown.

In order to lift the main body of the bottom flap up flat against the end of the bundle, an additional angle-shaped flap folder 160 is provided. This folder has a pivot mounted on the upper end of an upright 162 in the center of a transverse bar 163. Bar 163 is raised and lowered by a piston rod 164 in vertical cylinder 165. End rollers 166 run in vertical guide channels, not shown. Stops 167 limit the downward movements of 'bar 163 and vertical slides 156.

When bar 163 lises, the folder 160 carries the folder up with it, causing the latter to form the bottom fold while the folder lifts the bottom flap up against the side of the bundle. As one side of each of these angle elements engages the bottom of the bundle, the element is rotated about its pivot to produce the fold as in the case of the similarly constructed folding plates 92 and 92a.

As soon as bottom flaps 31 have been folded up, the top flap folders 92a proceed to fold the top flaps 32 down. Then the other folders 92, 63 and 110 operate in sequence as described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 12.

The entire apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 to 14 is preferably operated by a compressed air system except the conveyors which may be driven either by electric motors or pneumatic motors, as desired. The binding machines 11 and 12 have their own conveyor sections which are separately driven and controlled. The various pneumatic cylinders are controlled by relay valves which may be actuated either by solenoids in an electric control sys tem or by pneumatic relay valves in a pneumatic control system. In an electrical control system, the various operations and movements are initiated and timed for the most part by limit switches actuated by moving parts of the apparatus. If a pneumatic control system is used, these functions are performed in a similar manner by pilot valves actuated by the moving parts to produce the desired sequence of operations. The operating and control systems are not illustrated because these are well understood in the art and the program of operations must serve the varying requirements of each particular installation. These requirements vary so widely that no particular control arrangement can be considered as standard or even typical. A control system designed for one installation would not be suitable for another.

The mechanical apparatus herein shown and described, however, is well adapted to the varying needs of industry and is flexible to the extent that those components which are not needed do not need to be incorporated in the machines for a particular installation. For example, as explained in the beginning of this specification, the folding machine is a complete and fully operative unit by itself for use either with or without the two binding or strapping machines, although the binding machines are often desirably included as the complete equipment is herein described.

Having now described our invention and in what manner the same may be usexl, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding machine, a horizontal guide bar, a pair of horizontal cross bars mounted on said guide bar for sliding movement lengthwise of said guide bar, a pair of L-shaped folder plates pivotally mounted on each cross bar on a vertical pivot axis passing through the corner of the L, slides on said cross bars carrying said pivotal mountings for said folder plates, and springs connected between said folder plates and cross bars arranged to hold said folder plates in predetermined angular positions on said pivotal mountings and to hold said slides in predetermined positions on said cross bars.

2. In a machine as defined in claim 1, a cylinder connected at one end to one of said cross bars, and a piston rod in said cylinder connected to the other cross bar.

3. A machine for folding a wrapper about a bundle comprising a bottom section having a conveyor to support the bundle, upfolding paddles on said bottom section, an overhead transverse track extending across said conveyor, a carriage on said track, vertical guides on the bottom of said carriage, a frame slidably mounted on said guides, a cylinder and piston unit connected between said carriage and said frame for raising and lowering said frame, downfolding paddles on opposite sides of said frame, vertical corner folding plates carried by said frame, and a bundle press member on the bottom of said frame arranged to engage the top of the bundle when said frame is lowered.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, said bottom section having a single pair of upfolding paddles and said frame having a single pair of downfolding paddles for making end folds in a wrapper which has previously been folded around the sides of the bundle.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, said bottom section having two pairs of upfolding paddles at right angles to each other and said frame having two pairs of downfolding paddles at right angles to each other for making both side and end folds in the wrapper.

6. In a machine for folding a wrapper about a bundle, a pair of folding paddles, a frame, a pair of support members mounted on opposite sides of said frame for movement toward and away from each other, spring means urging said support members toward each other, parallel pivot means for said paddles on said support members and means for swinging said paddles to folding and retracted positions, said swinging means causing said paddles to clamp opposite faces of a bundle placed in Wrapper folding position between said paddles and causing said support members to adjust themselves to variations in the position and dimensions of the bundle so that the wrapper will be folded flat against said opposite faces of the bundle.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6, said frame comprising an underlying support for the bundle and said paddles being upfolding paddles.

8. A machine as defined in claim 6, said frame being arranged to overlie the bundle and said paddles being downfolding paddles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,064 8/1901 Nelson 53218 2,858,657 11/1958 Guthrie 53218 3,237,373 3/1966 Lewis 53-218 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Pl'illldl) Examiner.

L. S. BOUCHARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING MACHINE, A HORIZONTAL GUIDE BAR, A PAIR OF HORIZONTAL CROSS BARS MOUNTED ON SAID GUIDE BAR FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF SAID GUIDE BAR, A PAIR OF L-SHAPED FOLDER PLATES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON EACH CROSS BAR ON A VERTICAL PIVOT AXIS PASSING THROUGH THE CORNER OF THE L, SLIDES ON SAID CROSS BARS CARRYING SAID PIVOTAL MOUNTINGS FOR SAID FOLDER PLATES, AND SPRINGS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FOLDER PLATES AND CROSS BARS ARRANGED TO HOLD SAID FOLDER PLATES IN PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITIONS ON SAID PIVOTAL MOUNTINGS AND TO HOLD SAID SLIDES IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS ON SAID CROSS BARS. 